Friday 9th May - Pau

Rise at respectable hour – tell Tommy to take us to Pau in France – he wakes up early and we have a smooth exit from Pamplona,

Oh what beautiful country side as we travel east along the extreme north of Spain.

More pilgrims – poor people – pouring rain - think of O’Donnell

Stop at the Supermercardo – morning coffee – turn north toward Francia

Rise and rise to the border tunnel - again in awe of the scenery – experience the longest tunnel so far – 10 kilometres? – enter France.

Descend and descend through the Vale d’Aspe – be in awe of the scenery – encounter more Pilgrims making their way up to the border and on to Santiago

Follow Pam lookalike down the mountain – obviously easier down than up.

Stop at Patisserie – cakes – bread and cheese – onwards down through the valley still in awe of the Pyrenees.

Turn east towards Pau – enter the town of 80,000. Nice open town – find way to parking station under the central plaza – walk to the hotel on the corner – very nice French male receptionist.

Siesta and then watch people scurry across the plaza in pouring rain.

Brave the rain - wander the city – find the home of St Bernadette – wander along the river and past the old palace – nice safe comfortable city – find nice restaurant – consume too much local food – get slightly intoxicated on very nice French dry white.